EVIAN, France- President William Ruto has called for a fundamental shift in how Africa engages with the global community, urging G7 nations to support African-led institutions and embrace partnerships built on sovereign equality, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity.
Speaking during the G7+ Working Session on “Fostering New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity” in Evian, France, on June 16, Ruto said Africa was determined to move beyond narratives of dependency and claim its place as a key contributor to global solutions.
“For too long, Africa has been seen through the lens of need. Its risks are overstated. Its opportunities are understated. Its future was decided in rooms where Africa had no seat,” Ruto said, adding that the continent was now pursuing a new model based on partnership rather than hierarchy.
The President said African leaders had resolved during the 2023 Africa Climate Summit that the continent would not remain a victim of climate change but would instead become part of the solution.
He noted that this vision had shaped Africa’s engagement with international partners and strengthened calls for greater inclusion in global decision-making.
Ruto argued that one of the biggest obstacles facing the continent is limited access to affordable financing.
While multilateral development banks remain important partners, he said their capital resources are insufficient to match Africa’s development ambitions.
He also criticised the high borrowing costs imposed on African countries, saying risk assessments often rely on outdated assumptions that do not reflect current realities.
“Opportunity goes unfunded. Growth is deferred,” he said, describing the consequences of unequal access to global capital.
The President highlighted ongoing efforts by African governments to strengthen home-grown financial institutions and mobilise domestic resources.
He said the continent holds more than $4 trillion in financial assets across banks, pension funds, insurers, and reserves, but lacks adequate structures to channel those resources into long-term development investments.
Ruto pointed to Kenya’s investments in affordable housing and universal healthcare as examples of governments backing development priorities with domestic resources.
He said African nations were prepared to play their part but required stronger international support to unlock additional investment.
He urged the G7 to support African institutions through guarantees and other risk-sharing instruments, arguing that such measures would help attract both domestic and foreign capital.
“A guarantee is not merely money. It is confidence. It is capital unlocked,” he said.
In a strong closing message, Ruto rejected perceptions of Africa as a burden on the global economy, describing the continent as a strategic asset for global prosperity.
“Africa is not a problem to be solved. Africa is the greater part of the solution. Africa is not a burden to be carried. Africa is an opportunity to be seized,” he said.
